Wire-stretcher



D. l. CLARKE.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATIGN FILED DEC. L 191l6.

1,331,321. L Patented 1161111920.

DELBERT I. CLARKE, OF ELAINE, ARKANSAS.

WIRE-STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

` Application filed December 1, 1916. Serial No. 134,488.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DELBERT I. CLRKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elaine, in the county of Phillips and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the class of pushing and pulling and has particular reference to new and useful improvements in wire fence stretchers.

An object of my invention is to provide in a novel and cheaply constructed device an improved type of wire fence puller or stretcher which may be quickly and easily applied for use in stretching a fence or the like, and is strong and durable and effective in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wire fence stretcher of the class described having a novel and improved form ofv wire fence engaging structure aswell as a novelA means for exerting force upon the fence engaging elements to stretch the fence.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for engagement with a wire clamp whereby as a greater pulling force is exerted upon the clamp( the same will be caused to more firmly engage the fence wire thereby obviating any danger of slipping of the wire fence while being stretched.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an article of the class described which may be cheaply manufactured vand placed upon the market at a reasonable cost, and may be as readily adapted yfor stretching a single wire as for stretching a plurality of the same.

Other objects and advantages of my improved wire Stretcher will appear from the following detail description and the claim,

taken with an inspection'of the accompany- Ving drawing, 1n which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a Vwire stretcher embodying the improvements yof my invention, the same being shown applied in operative position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp and holding members; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental longitudinal sectional view of the clamp showing the retaining member; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational View of the clamp gripping. element.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference tersecting strands of wire 1 and 2, respectively, said strands being engaged by the clamps in a manner which will hereinafter appear. Y

The clam as or wire engaging device is designated (l in its entirety and is composed of two detachable sections 10 and 11, the sections 10 forming the clamp base and carrying a plurality of wire fence engaging pins 12, best shown in Fig. 3. The section 11 is provided with recesses to accommodate the pins 12 when in clamping position.

The sections 10 and 11 are detachably and hingedly connected at adjacent ends, said connection being afforded by means of an angle-iron 14.- bolted or otherwise fastened to the outer faceof the section 10 and projecting laterally of the section in the direction of the section 1l. A plate 15 is carried by the section 11 and bolted or otherwise permanently secured thereto, said plate being provided with reduced portions 16 forming a head 17 adapted for insertion through an opening provided in the angle-iron 14. The opening in said angle-iron is of a width to accommodate the narrow portion of the plate 15 when in the position shown in Figs.

1V and 2 and of a length to accommodate the head 17 so that said sections 10 and 11 may be disconnected.

A temporary holding device for the sections when applying the same to the fence wireis provided, said holding device embodying a hinge plate 18, mounted preferably on the outer surface'of the section 10 at the end opposite the angle-iron 14, a wire loop 19 being hingedly mounted in said plate 18 and adapted to embrace both of the sections 10 and 11 when in clamping position. vAlever 20 is pivoted as at 21 on the wire loop 1 9, said lever having a cam portion 22 to engagea wearing plate 23 mounted onthe outer surface of the section 11.A

The plate 23 is provided with shoulder 24 to prevent accidental displacement of the cam when in temporary use. In order to effectively maintain the sect-ions l and l1 in clamping engagement with the fence F I provide a bolt 25 demountably secured in complemental openings 26 formed in said sections l() and 11, the threaded end of said bolt having a knurled nut 27 thereon, said nut being 'adapted to clampingly engage said section 11, the head of the bolt engaging the other section. After a .temporary en gagement of the clamp C with the wire fence has been effected by thecam 22 the nut 27 is kbrought into position for n'iaintaining the clamp in engagement with the fence during the stretching operation.

I provide means for exerting force upon the clamp in the direction in which the fence is tov be stretched, said means including a tubular member 28 provided with two loops. 29 on the outer surface adjacent oppositev ends and asingle loop 30 at a point intermediatethe length of the tube and approximately diametrically opposite said loops. A chain 31 extends from the loop 30, the free end of the chain 31 .having a ring 32 carried thereby.V A pairof Yhook members 33 extend from the ring 32, said hook mem-- Ybers engaging rings 34 carried by the free ends of chains 35, saidchains beingarranged inpairs and connecting thelcl'amp engaging members c and c with the rings' 34.

As both of the members c and e are identicalin construction I shall describe but one of the same. Referringto Fig.; 4 wherein Y one of the members, namely the-'member c is shown I provide a pair of straps,- one of the stra-ps having an opening 37 therein and Vthe other Straprhaving an enlarged head 3S to engage through said opening and 'connect the 'free ends of said straps. A pair of the chains 35 are shown, the free ends? of the wchains being connected at 39' to opposite f points on the strap members, the intermediate portions of the chains extending through openings 40 formed in said strap members.

Thus it willibe seen that when force is exerted upon both ofthe strap members simult'aneously,

said strap `members will be brought into clamping engagement with an i object inserted therebetween.. In the present instance the strap members are to be engaged` about th'esections 10 and 11 v,ofthe clamp C, grooves 41 being provided in the opposite faces of said members Yl() and 1l to receive said straps. Y 1

IChains'42 and 43 extend from the loops 29 carriedy by the tube 28, said chains having hoo-k members 44V and 45 on'their free ends.

Y lOne of the hook members is engaged with :a ring 46, said ring being carried `y the free ends of a chain 47, temporarily connected to th-e fence post C in Vany desired manner.

` Letters Patent, is

A lever 48 is provided, the same being in sertible in the tube 28. Y

In use Hthe stretcher ofv my' invention is applied asshown in Fig. 1,. the chain'47 beving connected with the post P and the chain By oscillating the lever 48the pull rwill be directed upon the Vchains 35 tightening the fence toa certain degree. Upon a movement toward the post P of the lever 48 the hook 45 is engaged with one of the links of the chain 4T. The lever is now Yoscillated in the opposite direction and the hook44 disengaged from the ring 46 and engaged with one of the linksof the chain 47. This operation is repeated progressively until the fence it tightened to the desiredY degree. In order to vsimplify the showing of the device the tubular member 28 has been shown in a vertical position, but `of course, it is to be Vunderstood that in aetualuse this itubular member will operate horizontally. Of course, I do not limit myself to theY exact use of the tubular member since any convenient position of operation may be employed. I desire -to 4lay particular stress upon the extreme simplicity of my im-Y proved stretc'her in. view of the function accomplished thereby, and it will be readily apparent that the device may be Vcheaply constructed and placed on the market at a reasonable figure. All of the parts are oonstructed `from stock material which can be bought wholesale from any hardware manufacturer and requiringspecial dies only for the straps 36- and the plates 14 and l5,

Fromztlre above description taken in connectionY with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that a `clear and comprehensive understanding .of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be .understood that. `such changes may made in said structure asV do not depart from theaspirit and scope Vof' the invention .as claimed'. Y

Having thus fully described my invention, what'I claimas new and desire to secure-by In a device. of the `character described, l

means forgexerting force upon the clampmg element of a wirey stretcher, comprismg' a tubular member of `uniform diameter in Y cross section throughout its length for VreceivingY a lever in. either ,end thereof, arpair Aof loops provided on said' member;- adjacent oppositeY ends at'one sidey of the4v same, a

IBO

single loop provided on the other side of to each of said pair of loops, and hooks on the member at a point intermediate the the free ends of said chains whereby either 10 length of the same and diemetrieally oppoof the same may be connected with a fence site to said loops, a chain extending from post.

said single loop, a ring formed on the free In testimony whereof I afix my signature end of the chain, a pair of hooks extendin hereto.

from said ring and adapted to engage wit said clamping element, a chain connected DELBERT I. CLARKE. 

